1 Virtual Channel Connection Uses Advantages of Virtual Paths (VP) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Chapter 11. ATM and Frame Relay ATM: Cell Switching • ATM: a method of packet switching • Overview of ATM • A virtual circuit packet switching technique with QoS • Protocol Architecture guarantee. • Used in both WAN and LAN settings • ATM Logical Connections • Signaling (connection setup) Protocol: Q.2931 • ATM Cells • Packets of small fixed size are called cells � 5-byte header + 48-byte payload • ATM Service Categories • Similarities between ATM and other packet switching • ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL) � Transfer data of packets � Multiple logical connections over single physical interface • Cell Transmission • Frame Relay Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Protocol Architecture ATM Logical Connections • Virtual channel connections (VCC) : Basic unit of switching • User plane : Provides for user information between two end users transfer � Full duplex; Fixed size cells • Control plane: Call and • Virtual path connection (VPC): Bundle of VCC with same connection control end points • Management plane � Plane management: whole system functions � Layer management: Resources and parameters in protocol entities • AAL layer: interface between other transfer protocol & ATM Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 1

Virtual Channel Connection Uses Advantages of Virtual Paths (VP) & Virtual Channels (VC) • Two-level hierarchy of • Between end users virtual connection: many � End to end user data VC are inside one VP, ATM along that VP behave as if � Control signals there is only one connection. � VPC provides overall capacity Less connection-state � VCC organization done by end users information stored in the ATMs. The VCI is unique • Between end user and network locally inside the same VP. � Control signaling • Between network entities • Simplified network architecture � Network traffic management � Routing • Reduced processing & Short connection setup time Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 ATM Cells Variable vs Fixed-Length Packets • Fixed size: 5 bytes • Fixed-Length Easier to Switch in Hardware header; 48 bytes data � Hardware to do simple jobs: processing packet is simpler if you know their size. • Small cells reduce queuing delay for high • No Optimal Length : priority cells � if small: high header-to-data overhead � if large: low resource utilization • Easier to implement � Compromise: 48 bytes = (32+64)/2 switching of fixed size cells in hardware Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 2

Header Format ATM Service Categories • Real time : Amount of delay & Variation of delay (jitter) • Generic flow control (GFC) � Constant bit rate (CBR): e.g., u ncompressed audio and video � Only at user to network interface � Real time variable bit rate (rt-VBR) : e.g. compressed video � Controls flow only at this point Can statistically multiplex connections � • Virtual path identifier (VPI) • Non-real time: overall data transmission rate • Virtual channel identifier (VCI) � Non-real time variable bit rate (nrt-VBR): e.g. critical web transaction such as bank trans. • Payload type (PT) � Available bit rate (ABR): Application specifies peak cell rate � e.g. user info or network management (PCR) and minimum cell rate (MCR ); Spare capacity shared among all ABR sources • Cell loss priority (CLP) � Unspecified bit rate (UBR) -> best-effort service: • Header error control (CRC-8) e.g.text/data/image transfer Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL) ATM Bit Rate Services • Support for information transfer protocol not based on ATM � Supported Application types � General data service � IP over ATM � Multiprotocol encapsulation over ATM (MPOA) • AAL Service � Segmentation and re-assembly � Handle transmission errors � Handle lost and misinserted cells � Flow control and timing Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 3

Segmentation and Reassembly Transmission of ATM Cells • ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL): 4 types by ITU • ATM Data Rate: � AAL 1 and 2 designed for applications that need guaranteed bit rate: e.g., voice, video � 622.08Mbps � AAL 3/4 designed for packet data ( connection-oriented such � 155.52Mbps as X.25, or connectionless such as IP) � 51.84Mbps � AAL 5 is an alternative standard for packet data � 25.6Mbps Variable-length protocols (e.g., IP) • Physical Layers for ATM � Run over several different physical media & physical-layer AAL AAL protocols (e.g., SONET, FDDI, wireless physical layers). … … � The standard ways of carrying ATM cells inside a SONET/SDH frame have been defined A TM A TM Information needed for reassemble @ destination Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 ATM is in danger?! STM-1 Payload for SDH-Based ATM Cell Transmission • In LAN network, it competes with Gigabit Ethernet • In WAN network, it competes with IP • Many of its innovations in high-speed switching, traffic management, and QoS will survive in an IP-networking framework Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 4

Frame Relay Background - X.25 Frame Relay • Designed to be more efficient than X.25 • Call control packets, in band signaling • Developed before ATM • Multiplexing of virtual circuits at layer 3 (routing) • Larger installed base than ATM • Both layer 2 and 3 include flow and error control • ATM now of more interest on high speed networks • Considerable overhead • Not appropriate for modern digital systems with high reliability (e.g. optical transmission with less errors) Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Spring, 2003 EE 4272 Frame Relay – Differences with X.25 • Call control carried in separate logical connection (recall common channel signaling) • Multiplexing and switching at layer 2 • No hop-by-hop (link layer) error or flow control • End to end flow and error control (if used) are done by higher layer (layer 3 or above) • Single user data frame sent from source to destination and ACK (from higher layer) sent back • ITU-T recommend frame relay above 2Mbps Spring, 2003 EE 4272 5